Chapter 10: Dynamic Duo
"Alright, pick a song. I wanna know what kind of music you like." Smokescreen said.
"I told you. I like softer songs, particularly ones with piano music in the background." I say. His radio tunes to a song that played just classical.
"Not quite. I'm more into artists like Lana Del Ray." I say. He tunes it to one of my favorites by her. Gods and Monsters.
We were halfway through the song when Smokescreen changed it to something a little more upbeat.
"I'm sorry, I just can't listen to that for the rest of the car ride. It's too slow." He griped.
"Fine. What is this?" I ask, tapping my finger to the tune.
"I don't know. I like this group and their music." He said. I got to listening to the lyrics and decided that I liked it, even if it was different than my preferred music.
I tapped my foot to the beat and shook my shoulders, bobbing my head. These guys were good. It was different. All I had ever listened to was my piano music and Lana Del Ray. I loved the new beat.
"This is awesome." I smile.
"I know right. This is gonna be our band." Smokescreen said happily. He was dropping me off at school this morning. I had spent the night at the base again. I slept on the couch with Miko. We said that we were going to a friend's house for a sleep over. We weren't lying.
It had been about a month since our incident where everyone thought I was dead. I had to do my homework on the way to school and I had to explain the cut on my cheek from running through the jungle. I used my clumsiness as an excuse. The small cut had healed and now in it's place laid a small, shiny scar. Over time it would fade.
"Okay, here you go. You're early." Smoke commented as he pulled up by the curb. I was very early. I usually don't arrive for another twenty minutes.
"Do you care if I hang out with you for like ten minutes? Or at least until Miko or one of the boys shows up?" I ask.
"Not at all my flesh covered compatriot." He said. "Have you got any tests today?" He asks.
"I believe that I have one in Math today." I sigh.
"On a Monday?" Smokescreen asks.
"He's a huge jerk." I shrug.
"Ooh! That's a pretty strong word." He baited.
"He is! You should hear the way he talks to us. It's weird. Miko and I have a theory that he's sleeping with one of the students and that he talks in code so they're not caught." I explain. Smokescreen laughed.
"Wow, that's some serious stuff. Any ideas on who it is?" He asks.
"We have a few." I shrug. "Nothing solid. But we will get to the bottom of it." I say with a smirk and a determined tone.
"Whatever you say, Ren." I could almost hear the eye roll in his voice. I noticed that Miko was hopping out of her host mom's car and I pat Smokescreen's dash, bidding him goodbye.
I get out and I head over to meet my sister and we head up into the school and I give Smoke one last wave as he drives away.
I drove back to base, sad to see my charge go. We were such a team! She was witty and could keep up with my jokes. It was the perfect set up. I think the others were becoming to understand that I was just as capable as them, that I wasn't a sparkling, and that I was one step closer to my destiny.
I sped through the tunnel and skid to a stop in the main room, transforming. Ratchet was turned to me and I was waiting for him to lay into me about slowing down.
"Smokescreen, you're next for the holoform." He said. My eyes widen and I inwardly cheer.
"Sweet! I can surprise Ren when I pick her up today." I say.
"Please! The technology I'm installing in you will take days to complete. And don't get your hopes up that it will work. So far, it's only been successful in Bulkhead and Arcee." He said. I nod and he leads me to the med-bay.
I sat on the berth and he had me open a panel on my side to get to my wiring. I would let out a yelp every now and again as he nicked the wires.
"If you would just keep still, it would be less painful." He snarled.
"Sorry Ratch! I don't like to be in one position for too long." I huff.
"Get used to it because the longer you fidget, the longer you'll be on my table." He said. I let out a groan and I try to be still.
After an hour or two of being completely still on that dreadful berth, Ratchet finally let me leave. He said that he'd finish the next morning and to go rest for the rest of the day. But how could I do that? I needed to do something other than sit around.
The others had gone on patrols and I wanted to join them, but I knew that Ratch would never allow it. I went to my berth room and I had to find something to occupy myself.
I got my phaseshifter out and I started training with it. I dived through walls, took cover beneath the floor, and I drew my blaster as if I were in a battle situation.
This kept me busy until it was time to go pick up Ren. It was a welcome distraction and I sped out of base, tires squealing, to get to my charge. I was there probably thirty minutes early and I could faintly see her through an open window, which was probably only thirty feet away. All the windows of this classroom were open and I watched the teacher pace in front of the class and call on students.
Then, I see Ren's eyes widen with surprise when she spotted me. She offered a tiny wave, being so discreet so not to be seen. From her seat, I could see that her skirt was riding up her thigh. I wanted to tell her so that nobody else would be able to see, knowing how conservative humans were.
I found myself focusing on that and I had to distract myself. She had her hair clipped on the sides with some black bows and pulled away from her eyes. Her hair framed her face and I noticed how every few seconds she would lick her lips.
Then, the bell rang loudly and I watched as she rose out of her seat and walked out the door. She rushed out to meet me and I closed my door behind her as she got in.
"Oh my gosh! You wouldn't believe what happened today Smoke." She started. "Actually you probably would, but that's beside the point. Miko got in a fight today! She socked the school bully Vince a good one." Ren said proudly.
"What for?" I ask, pulling off into the road.
"He was teasing us about our accents and she kicked him in the balls," Ren said with a wide smile.
"Why would she get in trouble for kicking someone's balls? They're for sports right?" I ask. Ren started giggling.
"We need to have 'the talk'." She said, patting my dash.